The 2026-27 hockey season is here, and registration is underway.

Before players, coaches, and team staff can be added to their teams in the Hockey Canada Registry (HCR), there are a few important requirements that need to be completed and showing on their HCR profiles.

To help avoid delays, here’s a quick checklist of what you need to know.

Registration Checklist

For Parents and Guardians

☐ Shift Forward for Parents/Guardians completed by at least one parent or guardian for each registered player.

This is a one-time requirement and must be completed before the player can be added to a team.

Complete Shift Forward for Parents/Guardians

For Coaches and Team Staff

☐ Required Coach 1 or Coach 2 Learning Lab completed, including the appropriate pathway.

☐ Current Vulnerable Sector Check (VSC)

☐ Current Criminal Record Check (CRC)

☐ Declaration / Screening Application completed

☐ Shift Forward for Rostered Staff completed

Complete Shift Forward for Rostered Staff/Officials

Don’t Wait Until the Last Minute

One of the easiest ways to avoid registration delays is to get your screening and online courses completed as early as possible.

VSCs and CRCs can sometimes take time to process through the RNC or RCMP. Your screening documents must also appear on your HCR profile before a Registrar can add you to a team.

VSCs, CRCs, and Declarations are generally valid for three seasons unless Hockey NL policy requires annual screening.

Coaches and Team Staff

Coaches and team staff must complete the appropriate Coach 1 or Coach 2 Learning Lab course, along with the corresponding pathway, and have it show under the Qualification Tab in the HCR.

If the required qualifications aren’t showing in the HCR, the individual can’t be added to a team until they complete the requirements.

The same applies to the required Shift Forward for Rostered Staff course.

Screening Requirements

All applicable team staff must have the required screening documentation showing on their HCR profile, including:

If these requirements aren’t completed and approved in the HCR, Registrars can’t add the individual to a team.

Shift Forward

There are two separate Shift Forward programs to be aware of.

Shift Forward for Rostered Staff/Officials is required for applicable coaches, team staff, and officials.

Complete Shift Forward for Rostered Staff/Officials

Shift Forward for Parents/Guardians is a one-time program that must be completed by at least one parent or guardian for each registered player.

Complete Shift Forward for Parents/Guardians

One Important Reminder

Completing a course or submitting screening documentation isn’t necessarily enough. The required qualifications and screening must be approved and showing on the member’s HCR profile.

If a member isn’t approved in the HCR for their required screening, coaching qualifications, or Shift Forward requirements, they aren’t eligible or insured to participate in practices or games unless they have a written exemption.

So, before stepping onto the ice, please make sure everything is completed and approved.

Questions?

If you’re unsure about what’s required or you’re waiting for a qualification or screening document to appear in the HCR, please reach out to Jeremy Bishop.

Thank you to all of our coaches, volunteers, team staff, parents, and guardians for taking care of these requirements and helping the Avalon Celtics provide a safe, fun, and inclusive hockey experience for our players.

Let’s get the season started!

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